The executive director of the Construction Industry Council (CIC), Albert Cheng, on Thursday said the industry fully supports the new mesh netting testing requirements introduced by the government.

Cheng said suppliers and manufacturers must attach a traceable test certificate to every batch of mesh netting, which the CIC will verify directly with laboratories using a new tracking system.

"Once they have completed the testing and got the report or certificate, there must be a certificate or report number. Then, the manufacturer will have to report to CIC that this batch of net material has undergone such a testing with such a certificate and also report number," he said.

"The CIC will carry out checking with the laboratory to make sure that the code number and certificate match the batch of material that they produced."

Cheng added that the council will offer a collective procurement option to help contractors source compliant mesh nets.

He noted that around 400 building blocks currently undergoing repair works will need to install new nets.

“We are now starting to look into some creditable and capable manufacturer to produce this kind of net,” he said.

“If some contractors have their own avenues to find a creditable manufacturer, who also will carry out similar testing required by the new system, then they don't need to rely on the centralised procurement.”

The CIC head explained that removing and reinstalling nets on a typical 20- to 30-storey block will cost between HK$400,000 and HK$600,000, and the council will offer assistance to contractors facing cash-flow problems.

Meanwhile, building services engineer Ho Wing-ip welcomed the government’s plan for spot checks after the new nets have been in use for one year.

"I think it is reasonable to carry out spot checks on the integrity or the fire-retardant characteristics after one year,” he said.

“If after one year, we find that a good proportion or a large proportion of nets are found to have deteriorated, losing the fire-retardant parts, then the government can order to carry out spot checks [more regularly].”

Ho added that he believes Hong Kong has sufficient laboratories to handle the large number of tests required.